03/27/2024

Decorated NASA astronaut and Elizabethtown native, Col. Curtis Brown

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Hurricane Florence may have delayed the progress being made at the new airport terminal building in Elizabethtown, but it will not dampen the celebration planned at the upcoming ribbon cutting.

Town of Elizabethtown Mayor Sylvia Campbell announced the the official ribbon cutting ceremony of the new airport terminal building in Elizabethtown will be held on March 1, 2019 at 11:00. She has invited everyone to attend.

Decorated NASA astronaut and Elizabethtown native, Col. Curtis Brown

Decorated NASA astronaut and Elizabethtown native, Col. Curtis Brown, is scheduled to make an appearance at the official ribbon cutting ceremony, Town of Elizabethtown Manager, Eddie Madden stated on social media.

He shared some exciting news about the future use of the terminal building.

“Our plan is to establish a civil air patrol squadron here. It will be a composite squadron that would give youth in the community the opportunity to learn more about aviation,” said Madden.

He stated the civil air patrol unit, if established, will need space for orientation, mapping and other flight training related activities.

“So far, the Fayetteville and Wilmington Squadrons have said they will help us get one established here. It would open the door for not only more use of the airport for the community but also open the doors for some of our youth to maybe take on a career in aviation,” said Madden.

The newly constructed terminal building offers a civil air patrol squadron plenty of space in which to learn and train. The new building measures 4,495 square feet and was built on the site of the old terminal. The new building features a lobby, office space, a conference room, a pilot’s lounge, classroom space, restroom facilities, kitchen space, shower facilities, and storage space.

The terminal project was funded with a $1.2 million grant from the North Carolina Division of Aviation.

The old terminal building was sold and moved off the property. The former terminal building was constructed in 1988 and dedicated to the memory of former Elizabethtown Mayor William “Bill” Keith in 1990.

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